A Lesson from the Ant

‘Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!

Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter’ (Proverbs 6:6-8).

‘Man’s brain is the mystery behind all his gains. Every gain in life is a result of the use of the brain. No one reigns in life without the use of the brain. It is the effective use of the brain that secures you a throne here on earth. Every star in life is essentially sense-made. Heights in life are results of insights inside of a man. Success, therefore, is a product of the right use of the sense’ (David Oyedpo). Considering man’s unusual endowments, his uniqueness among all God’s creation is unquestionable. However, lack of wisdom and indiscipline renders many men unproductive. It is noteworthy how God can use some of the smallest creatures in His creation like ants, to teach man important life lessons of personal responsibility, discipline, planning, organization and diligence. Indeed God the author of life is the all wise God. The ant is a remarkable creature, and below are some of the vital lessons that can be learnt from their work attitudes. According to Finis Dake;

1.    They work quietly without show and also work without complaining until their work is done.

2.    They are the most laborious or tough insects in existence.’ To make it in life you can’t afford to give up easily. Quitters never win and winners never quit.

3.    They are highly industrialized or developed, in the sense that they work together in astonishing systems of organization to the best good of the whole community.

4.    None of them exists without a definite job in life to help meet the needs of the community.

5.    They have foresight for others, so they collect food in proper season.

6.    They fondly attach to the young and fight to death to protect their own homes and young from enemies.

7.    They are ingenious carpenters and masons, building their own system of homes and underground tunnels. They keep these homes scrupulously clean.

8.    Finally, they are intelligent and wise so they carry out life’s work without being forced to do so by a guide, overseer or ruler.

If the tiny ant can work with these wonderful qualities then you can do better. ‘The Creator of all things gaveappropriate wisdom to all of His creatures; wisdom, that if obeyed, provides success in life, to reach one's full potential, whether man, beast or even insects (Wayne Blank). Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise…, all hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty (Prov 6:6, Prov 14:23). ‘If ordinary minds have produced the outstanding results we see today, then God is expecting you to do better than that, to produce extraordinary results by the appropriate use of your God-given mind. If those who are not born again are still getting great results, then imagine how much God is expecting from you and me’ (David Oyedepo). Make the best out of your present season, remember seasons change, they don’t last forever.